By way of background, I am a long-time season ticket holder,attended a majority of this year's games and watched all the games I missed on TV. I also played NJ HS BB (many moons ago) on an excellent HS team, continued to play pickup for many years thereafter, and even was a referee! As such, I consider myself to be a very knowledgeable, as well as a highly opinionated BB fan and enthusiast.
With all of that being said, here are my "final grades" for the entire 2016-2017 RU Team and Coach Pikiel.
(I'm a terrible typist -- I stopped at 6. I will complete my grades tomorrow by adding to this post)
1. Corey Sander -- C+.
Corey is the most talented and athletic guard we have had at RU since Battle and Douby. Unfortunately, he has a horrible outside shot; just awful. If he doesn't improve his outside shot, he has zero chance of playing in the NBA. There is hope, however, that he can improve his shooting. Just look at how much Melo Trimble has improved this aspect of his game. In my view, Corey waited too long this season to start to shoot from the outside. The Out of Conference schedule is where he should have started to shoot. Instead, he focused too much on the playmaking part of his game and rarely took an outside shot.
Corey also misses way too many shots at the rim. You have to admit -- he is among the best penetrating, scoring guards you will ever see a real combination of Stephon Marbury and Derrick Rose. However, he needs to improve his efficiency as an offensive player. You can't keep on getting to the rim and missing. Although it seems that he is fouled on almost 50% of his drive attempts, he very rarely gets the call. It's really a shame -- it is so obvious that the B1G refs disrespect RU.
No left hand at all. He can dribble lefty, but not in an attacking fashion. Shooting a lefty layup -- I have never seen him even try to use his left hand. He muist bring his left hand into his repertoire. learned. If he devlopes a left hand, improves his efficiency at the rim, improves his stroke from outside and from the line -- now you have a dominant player.
Corey's defensive performance improved dramatically this year. He is so quick and strong. However, he tends to lose focus. Too many times, he seems to half-hardheartedly offer defensive help to his teammates only to have his man drift to the outside and hit a wide open 3. He should be able to steal the ball more than he does. For a guy that is a dunking, highlight reel, how many dunks has he had on breakaways -- it has to be less than 10 for the entire year.
As to his play making ability, it is mediocre at best. Perhaps if we had a knock down 3 point shooter, his assists would increase, etc. Additionally, he turns the ball over too many times for my taste, not to mention having a penchant for turning it over at the worst possible time.
His foul shooting is below average to terrible. There is no excuse for not being a 75-80% free throw shooter.
If Corey averages 17-20 points a game next year, we will make the Tourney.
2. Deshawn Freeman -- C+
It took Freeman almost the entire year to figure out that he is a small forward and not a power forward. Once he started to take outside shots and make those shots, he was an exponentially better player. He is simply too small to the play the low post game that he was trying to play.
During the first 80% of the B1G schedule, he was over matched on a nightly basis. He tried and tried to overpower his opponents but he had very little success. Indeed, I never saw a player miss so many easy put backs and layups.
All was not lost, however, because he continued to work and work and work. Over time, he figured out that he was exponentially quicker and more athletic than 90% of his opponents. Once he slowed down a bit by stopping the multiple, herky jerky wasted offensive moves, he realized that he could blow by his man any time he wanted to. His outside shot improved as the year progressed, as did his foul shooting.
Freeman's defense was generally stellar. During the last 5 games or so, he became infatuated with the old playground move on defense of intentionally allowing your man to drive past you so you can poke or swipe the ball from behind. Although he rarely fouled his man on these attempts, the refs called him for foul on multiple occasions.
Freeman's rebounding was excellent. There aren't too many players his size that rebound as well as he can.
All in all, Freeman had a very good year. Next year promises to be even better. He should be our starting small forward -- not our power forward (assuming we get someone that can fill that role).
3. Mike Williams -- B
Dramatic improvement in all areas. The hardest working player on the team. The best rebounding guard -- perhaps in the country.
He still misses way too many makeable outside shots. It seems that he only makes shots when he comes off of screens. I still cannot believe that he was considered the best outside shooting guard in NYC. No consistency in his offensive game -- 1 game great, 3 games nothing, 1 game horrible.
He also takes way too many out-of-control layup attempts. He forces his shot attempts up way too much.
I was not a big fan of his during his first 2 years-- however, I've changed my mind. He is coming on and will be the perfect 6th man for next year.
4. CJ Getty -- B+
Given his total lack of athleticism, the year he had at RU was nothing short of amazing. He doubled his production and was, apparently, a great teammate. Too bad his eligibility is over.
As for his playing professionally -- a zero chance. However, given his dribbling skills, he could play for the Washington Generals!
5. Issa Thiam -- D
Oy vey! That's Senegalese for this guy cannot shoot! Rarely do you witness a player who is so over-matched physically that it is actually painful to watch. He had only 3-4 games where he played decently. Can he gain 40 pounds and improve his strength? I doubt it. I liked his defense, but his shooting was pitiful -- just atrocious. How does a 6'9" guy get stuffed so often when taking an outside shot? Not once or twice, but at least 10x during the season. His lack of scoring was unacceptable.
Although you can see he has potential (he moves gracefully and is quick), there is no way that he deserved to play as many minutes as he did as a freshman. I just cannot accept the fact that our Coach thought he was more valuable to the team than Laurent. There must be some reason why Thiam played over Laurent? It's just not apparent to me.
6. Nigel Johnson -- C+
Nigel should have had a better season. Like Corey, he is an incredibly gifted athlete and BB player. His last 2 games were great. That is the way he should have been playing all year.
On the downside, he dominates possessions too many times by over dribbling, he fails to take outside and 3 point shots when the opportunities are best best presented, forces too many shots when he drives and turns the ball over too much.
I really like his defense. There aren't too many better on-ball defenders than Nigel.
Next year I would like to see some better consistency in his game. I have to think that he is a better shooter than he showed this year. He should continue to add some weight and muscle so that his body type is more like Corey's. There were very few times that he could score in traffic.
Here is the rest of the team:
7. Shaquille Doorson -- C
Major kudos to Shaq for being able to return from a serious foot injury and for losing 50+ lbs. He showed flashes of what he can become -- a decent rebounder, a good post defender, a competent player within 2' of the rim, and able to set monster picks to free shooters and guards. Other than that, he is a major work in progress. His conditioning must improve dramatically -- my estimate is the he must lose another 20lbs.
As to Shaq's offensive game -- it is nonexistent -- nada, nothing. However, I think he can improve to the point where he can develop a low post game. If you think about it, if CJ Getty was able to develop drop step moves and a foul line jump shot with no athletic ability, why can't Shaq be able to do the same.
As to his foul shooting, it is atrocious. He cannot be in the game during the last 2 minutes -- his brick laying foul shooting makes him a major liability. With major repetitive practice, he should be able to improve this aspect of his game.
As to his defensive game, he is a very good post defender. he certainly has the body type and strength to continue to improve in this area. His lack of jumping ability is breathtaking. Imagine being 7' tall and not be able to jump high enough to block an occasional shot? He also loses his defensive focus too often. Did you see the play the other night, where he turned his back on the ball and didn't know where he was on the floor? You don't see that type of poor BB IQ too often.
Oh well... with all of his BB warts, I still like him as player. By the time he is a senior, we might have ourselves our own Isaac Haas.
8. Eugene Omoruyi - C
A pleasant surprise.
Let's focus on what does best --- he plays with high energy and is tough, physical defender. No layups on his watch -- you are going to hit the floor or suffer the consequences of a hard foul if you are attempting a layup near him. I forget the game, but Eugene hammered a player on a breakaway and nearly got tossed from the game. That was the hardest foul committed by a RU player this season. I don't know about you, but this reminds me of Charles Oakley and the Knick teams of that era. I like that level of toughness. The more guys we get that play like Eugene and Mike Williams, the better we will be.
He can also dribble and is a very good passer. For my money, he made several of the better passes this season that led to breakaway layups. These passes occurred following a steal or after a long rebound made by him. This court awareness and BB IQ was refreshing to see -- particularly from a freshman.
As to the negatives, he has a below average outside shot and virtually no ability to create space on his own to get off an outside shot. During the B1G portion of the schedule, I don't recall one outside shot that he made. His lack of confidence in this aspect of his game was palpable. He became a one dimensional offensive player -- driving to the basket in an out of control manner and hoisting up a ridiculous layup attempt that had a 10% chance of going in.That being said, he showed good hands on multiple occasions, by catching hard to catch passes in traffic, driving and head faking for layups.
This guy will only improve. A great pickup with a positive upside.
9. Jonathan Laurent -- D
This is my most difficult grade because coming into this season, Laurent was my favorite player. A Dane Miller clone (one of my favs). Laurent shows great athleticism. He also is a tough, gritty defender, a slasher who shows no fear around the rim. His outside shot -- well -- its an ugly looking, work in progress. Despite the rawness of his offensive game, I thought that he was going to really blossom this year. What happened?
I have to think that he was the only player that didn't buy into the new philosophy 100%. Otherwise, his lack of minutes makes absolutely no sense to me. He is every bit as good a defender as Thiam and Omoruyi, is a better rebounder, has more experience, but played way less than they did. Again -- why? The answer may be obvious to others on this board, but it is not to me.
From my perspective, even though Laurent painfully underperformed this year, I still think he has more potential than Thiam and Omuruyi. He needs to develop a real outside shot and develop the confidence to "let if fly" whenever the opportunity is presented. He needs to cut down on his lazy cross-court passes that all too often turned into steals and dunks by the opposition (this was a major problem this year and could be the reason he was kept off the floor). He needs to cut down on his ill conceived, headlong drives to the basket, which all too often resulted in ridiculous unmakeable shot attempts.
I hope Laurent does not transfer. If he comes back, he will be the major surprise contributor for next season. He showed too much talent as a freshman to fall off a cliff!
10. Candido Sa -- C
A tremendous pick-up. I love his athleticism and shot blocking ability. Indeed, based on Candido's performance during the out of conference portion of the schedule, I thought that he was going to be our starting center. He showed flashes of an inside game (a few jump hook shots and assorted post moves) and a decent looking outside shot. However, when the competition level increased during the B1G portion of the schedule, Candido's performance dropped off dramatically. Hie was exposed on a regular basis. He couldn't make an outside shot, he hardly ever dunked at the rim (playing rather softly on defense, if you asked me) and was an atrocious foul shooter. If you want to think about the weaknesses of his game, then rewatch the MSG Wisconsin game. Enough said. If you want to think about his potential, then rewatch the OST game from the other night
I see great things from Candido next year. He was exposed to D1 BB for the first time. This is not Europe or Junior College. This is a physical brand of BB that you need to experience before you can adapt and improve. Now that Candido has been exposed to the B1G "gauntlet" and survived, I think you will see a vastly improved, physical player next year (assuming he doesn't leave to play pro ball in Europe -- I think he turns 25 next year!).
11. Ibrahima Diallo -- D
This is a late add-on. Sorry Ibrahima, like our Coach, I forgot you were on the team!
The way Diallo was left to waste away on the bench for large swaths of the season was a complete mystery to me. Was he hurt? Was he being disciplined? Was he just no good? Why did he not play in the weaker out of conference schedule at all? Why did he suddenly appear at the start of the tougher part of our schedule and play major minutes to only completely disappear during the last 20% of the season? I think we know the answer -- he's just not that good, and his teammates were better (at least our coaching staff thought they were). Rutgers seems to specialize in 6-10 to 7 footers that cannot jump. Diallo is the quickest of the 3, but he lacks the athleticism and coordination to be anything more than a last gasp option.
Can he improve? Your guess is as good as mine. The Seton Hall game was his best outing. There were a few other performances where you got a glimpse of his quickness, defense and rebounding. Mercurial flashes of hope, if you will, followed by klutzy crashes back to reality.
From what I have seen over the last 2 years, Diallo has no offensive moves or skills whatsoever. He can set picks and crash the boards -- that's about it. His outside shot is about as flat as you can ever see -- he shoots on a straight line with virtually no arc. His foul shooting form is even worse -- when he makes a foul shot we gasp, because we know how lucky it was that he made it.
Ibrahima ought to transfer. The competition level in the B1G is beyond him.
12. Matt Bullock - Inc.
I, for one was disappointed that he was red shirted. He was highly touted as having a good outside shot, a winner, blah blah blah. We saw none of this. Was he offered a scholarship in order to entice HS buddy, Naz Reid to give us a shot? Whatever. Unless he's the next coming of Charles Barkley, he looks nearly 50 lbs overweight. We shall see...
13. Walk ons -- A
Every walk on gets an A. The effort they put in is amazing. They practice just as hard as the scholarship players and they contribute by being good teammates. i love the effort. Special kudos to Jake Dadika. He made a meaningful contribution in several games (the Illini game comes to mind) and improved his skill level. Now if he could only knock down some shots, he might continue to get playing time. He rarely makes a mistake and is an excellent passer.
Pikiell Coaching Staff: -- B+
A remarkable job. A complete -- Knight and Day transformation. I am thrilled with the improvement in rebounding, defense, hustle, etc. I like the fact that Pikiell plays so many players. His post game quote that "This is not Little League, where everyone gets a trophy." (or some variant of that) says a lot. If you want to play for me, you need to perform in practice and during the game. If you fail to perform, you are sitting next to me on the bench. That's fair and it is the way life should be -- a complete meritocracy!
Some areas where I would like to see improvement in our coaching philosophy --more pressing, more zone, more 3 point shooting (once we get the players who can perform), more alley oop attempts and a more concerted effort to run. I would also like to see Pikiell get a technical foul called in an effort to shake up these refs. We get no respect from the B1G refs and enough is enough. I'm sure Pikiell preaches toughness to his players, he has to show his toughness by taking one for the team at the right moment. A message has to be sent to these refs that we are no longer the doormat of the league. How many atrocious calls are we going to have to take before we make a stand -- no mas, baby!
If we get a player or two who can really shoot, we are going to be a tougher out next year. Recruit, recruit and recruit. Even RU is entitled to a lucky break -- if we get one, look out!!
With all of that being said, here are my "final grades" for the entire 2016-2017 RU Team and Coach Pikiel.
(I'm a terrible typist -- I stopped at 6. I will complete my grades tomorrow by adding to this post)
1. Corey Sander -- C+.
Corey is the most talented and athletic guard we have had at RU since Battle and Douby. Unfortunately, he has a horrible outside shot; just awful. If he doesn't improve his outside shot, he has zero chance of playing in the NBA. There is hope, however, that he can improve his shooting. Just look at how much Melo Trimble has improved this aspect of his game. In my view, Corey waited too long this season to start to shoot from the outside. The Out of Conference schedule is where he should have started to shoot. Instead, he focused too much on the playmaking part of his game and rarely took an outside shot.
Corey also misses way too many shots at the rim. You have to admit -- he is among the best penetrating, scoring guards you will ever see a real combination of Stephon Marbury and Derrick Rose. However, he needs to improve his efficiency as an offensive player. You can't keep on getting to the rim and missing. Although it seems that he is fouled on almost 50% of his drive attempts, he very rarely gets the call. It's really a shame -- it is so obvious that the B1G refs disrespect RU.
No left hand at all. He can dribble lefty, but not in an attacking fashion. Shooting a lefty layup -- I have never seen him even try to use his left hand. He muist bring his left hand into his repertoire. learned. If he devlopes a left hand, improves his efficiency at the rim, improves his stroke from outside and from the line -- now you have a dominant player.
Corey's defensive performance improved dramatically this year. He is so quick and strong. However, he tends to lose focus. Too many times, he seems to half-hardheartedly offer defensive help to his teammates only to have his man drift to the outside and hit a wide open 3. He should be able to steal the ball more than he does. For a guy that is a dunking, highlight reel, how many dunks has he had on breakaways -- it has to be less than 10 for the entire year.
As to his play making ability, it is mediocre at best. Perhaps if we had a knock down 3 point shooter, his assists would increase, etc. Additionally, he turns the ball over too many times for my taste, not to mention having a penchant for turning it over at the worst possible time.
His foul shooting is below average to terrible. There is no excuse for not being a 75-80% free throw shooter.
If Corey averages 17-20 points a game next year, we will make the Tourney.
2. Deshawn Freeman -- C+
It took Freeman almost the entire year to figure out that he is a small forward and not a power forward. Once he started to take outside shots and make those shots, he was an exponentially better player. He is simply too small to the play the low post game that he was trying to play.
During the first 80% of the B1G schedule, he was over matched on a nightly basis. He tried and tried to overpower his opponents but he had very little success. Indeed, I never saw a player miss so many easy put backs and layups.
All was not lost, however, because he continued to work and work and work. Over time, he figured out that he was exponentially quicker and more athletic than 90% of his opponents. Once he slowed down a bit by stopping the multiple, herky jerky wasted offensive moves, he realized that he could blow by his man any time he wanted to. His outside shot improved as the year progressed, as did his foul shooting.
Freeman's defense was generally stellar. During the last 5 games or so, he became infatuated with the old playground move on defense of intentionally allowing your man to drive past you so you can poke or swipe the ball from behind. Although he rarely fouled his man on these attempts, the refs called him for foul on multiple occasions.
Freeman's rebounding was excellent. There aren't too many players his size that rebound as well as he can.
All in all, Freeman had a very good year. Next year promises to be even better. He should be our starting small forward -- not our power forward (assuming we get someone that can fill that role).
3. Mike Williams -- B
Dramatic improvement in all areas. The hardest working player on the team. The best rebounding guard -- perhaps in the country.
He still misses way too many makeable outside shots. It seems that he only makes shots when he comes off of screens. I still cannot believe that he was considered the best outside shooting guard in NYC. No consistency in his offensive game -- 1 game great, 3 games nothing, 1 game horrible.
He also takes way too many out-of-control layup attempts. He forces his shot attempts up way too much.
I was not a big fan of his during his first 2 years-- however, I've changed my mind. He is coming on and will be the perfect 6th man for next year.
4. CJ Getty -- B+
Given his total lack of athleticism, the year he had at RU was nothing short of amazing. He doubled his production and was, apparently, a great teammate. Too bad his eligibility is over.
As for his playing professionally -- a zero chance. However, given his dribbling skills, he could play for the Washington Generals!
5. Issa Thiam -- D
Oy vey! That's Senegalese for this guy cannot shoot! Rarely do you witness a player who is so over-matched physically that it is actually painful to watch. He had only 3-4 games where he played decently. Can he gain 40 pounds and improve his strength? I doubt it. I liked his defense, but his shooting was pitiful -- just atrocious. How does a 6'9" guy get stuffed so often when taking an outside shot? Not once or twice, but at least 10x during the season. His lack of scoring was unacceptable.
Although you can see he has potential (he moves gracefully and is quick), there is no way that he deserved to play as many minutes as he did as a freshman. I just cannot accept the fact that our Coach thought he was more valuable to the team than Laurent. There must be some reason why Thiam played over Laurent? It's just not apparent to me.
6. Nigel Johnson -- C+
Nigel should have had a better season. Like Corey, he is an incredibly gifted athlete and BB player. His last 2 games were great. That is the way he should have been playing all year.
On the downside, he dominates possessions too many times by over dribbling, he fails to take outside and 3 point shots when the opportunities are best best presented, forces too many shots when he drives and turns the ball over too much.
I really like his defense. There aren't too many better on-ball defenders than Nigel.
Next year I would like to see some better consistency in his game. I have to think that he is a better shooter than he showed this year. He should continue to add some weight and muscle so that his body type is more like Corey's. There were very few times that he could score in traffic.
Here is the rest of the team:
7. Shaquille Doorson -- C
Major kudos to Shaq for being able to return from a serious foot injury and for losing 50+ lbs. He showed flashes of what he can become -- a decent rebounder, a good post defender, a competent player within 2' of the rim, and able to set monster picks to free shooters and guards. Other than that, he is a major work in progress. His conditioning must improve dramatically -- my estimate is the he must lose another 20lbs.
As to Shaq's offensive game -- it is nonexistent -- nada, nothing. However, I think he can improve to the point where he can develop a low post game. If you think about it, if CJ Getty was able to develop drop step moves and a foul line jump shot with no athletic ability, why can't Shaq be able to do the same.
As to his foul shooting, it is atrocious. He cannot be in the game during the last 2 minutes -- his brick laying foul shooting makes him a major liability. With major repetitive practice, he should be able to improve this aspect of his game.
As to his defensive game, he is a very good post defender. he certainly has the body type and strength to continue to improve in this area. His lack of jumping ability is breathtaking. Imagine being 7' tall and not be able to jump high enough to block an occasional shot? He also loses his defensive focus too often. Did you see the play the other night, where he turned his back on the ball and didn't know where he was on the floor? You don't see that type of poor BB IQ too often.
Oh well... with all of his BB warts, I still like him as player. By the time he is a senior, we might have ourselves our own Isaac Haas.
8. Eugene Omoruyi - C
A pleasant surprise.
Let's focus on what does best --- he plays with high energy and is tough, physical defender. No layups on his watch -- you are going to hit the floor or suffer the consequences of a hard foul if you are attempting a layup near him. I forget the game, but Eugene hammered a player on a breakaway and nearly got tossed from the game. That was the hardest foul committed by a RU player this season. I don't know about you, but this reminds me of Charles Oakley and the Knick teams of that era. I like that level of toughness. The more guys we get that play like Eugene and Mike Williams, the better we will be.
He can also dribble and is a very good passer. For my money, he made several of the better passes this season that led to breakaway layups. These passes occurred following a steal or after a long rebound made by him. This court awareness and BB IQ was refreshing to see -- particularly from a freshman.
As to the negatives, he has a below average outside shot and virtually no ability to create space on his own to get off an outside shot. During the B1G portion of the schedule, I don't recall one outside shot that he made. His lack of confidence in this aspect of his game was palpable. He became a one dimensional offensive player -- driving to the basket in an out of control manner and hoisting up a ridiculous layup attempt that had a 10% chance of going in.That being said, he showed good hands on multiple occasions, by catching hard to catch passes in traffic, driving and head faking for layups.
This guy will only improve. A great pickup with a positive upside.
9. Jonathan Laurent -- D
This is my most difficult grade because coming into this season, Laurent was my favorite player. A Dane Miller clone (one of my favs). Laurent shows great athleticism. He also is a tough, gritty defender, a slasher who shows no fear around the rim. His outside shot -- well -- its an ugly looking, work in progress. Despite the rawness of his offensive game, I thought that he was going to really blossom this year. What happened?
I have to think that he was the only player that didn't buy into the new philosophy 100%. Otherwise, his lack of minutes makes absolutely no sense to me. He is every bit as good a defender as Thiam and Omoruyi, is a better rebounder, has more experience, but played way less than they did. Again -- why? The answer may be obvious to others on this board, but it is not to me.
From my perspective, even though Laurent painfully underperformed this year, I still think he has more potential than Thiam and Omuruyi. He needs to develop a real outside shot and develop the confidence to "let if fly" whenever the opportunity is presented. He needs to cut down on his lazy cross-court passes that all too often turned into steals and dunks by the opposition (this was a major problem this year and could be the reason he was kept off the floor). He needs to cut down on his ill conceived, headlong drives to the basket, which all too often resulted in ridiculous unmakeable shot attempts.
I hope Laurent does not transfer. If he comes back, he will be the major surprise contributor for next season. He showed too much talent as a freshman to fall off a cliff!
10. Candido Sa -- C
A tremendous pick-up. I love his athleticism and shot blocking ability. Indeed, based on Candido's performance during the out of conference portion of the schedule, I thought that he was going to be our starting center. He showed flashes of an inside game (a few jump hook shots and assorted post moves) and a decent looking outside shot. However, when the competition level increased during the B1G portion of the schedule, Candido's performance dropped off dramatically. Hie was exposed on a regular basis. He couldn't make an outside shot, he hardly ever dunked at the rim (playing rather softly on defense, if you asked me) and was an atrocious foul shooter. If you want to think about the weaknesses of his game, then rewatch the MSG Wisconsin game. Enough said. If you want to think about his potential, then rewatch the OST game from the other night
I see great things from Candido next year. He was exposed to D1 BB for the first time. This is not Europe or Junior College. This is a physical brand of BB that you need to experience before you can adapt and improve. Now that Candido has been exposed to the B1G "gauntlet" and survived, I think you will see a vastly improved, physical player next year (assuming he doesn't leave to play pro ball in Europe -- I think he turns 25 next year!).
11. Ibrahima Diallo -- D
This is a late add-on. Sorry Ibrahima, like our Coach, I forgot you were on the team!
The way Diallo was left to waste away on the bench for large swaths of the season was a complete mystery to me. Was he hurt? Was he being disciplined? Was he just no good? Why did he not play in the weaker out of conference schedule at all? Why did he suddenly appear at the start of the tougher part of our schedule and play major minutes to only completely disappear during the last 20% of the season? I think we know the answer -- he's just not that good, and his teammates were better (at least our coaching staff thought they were). Rutgers seems to specialize in 6-10 to 7 footers that cannot jump. Diallo is the quickest of the 3, but he lacks the athleticism and coordination to be anything more than a last gasp option.
Can he improve? Your guess is as good as mine. The Seton Hall game was his best outing. There were a few other performances where you got a glimpse of his quickness, defense and rebounding. Mercurial flashes of hope, if you will, followed by klutzy crashes back to reality.
From what I have seen over the last 2 years, Diallo has no offensive moves or skills whatsoever. He can set picks and crash the boards -- that's about it. His outside shot is about as flat as you can ever see -- he shoots on a straight line with virtually no arc. His foul shooting form is even worse -- when he makes a foul shot we gasp, because we know how lucky it was that he made it.
Ibrahima ought to transfer. The competition level in the B1G is beyond him.
12. Matt Bullock - Inc.
I, for one was disappointed that he was red shirted. He was highly touted as having a good outside shot, a winner, blah blah blah. We saw none of this. Was he offered a scholarship in order to entice HS buddy, Naz Reid to give us a shot? Whatever. Unless he's the next coming of Charles Barkley, he looks nearly 50 lbs overweight. We shall see...
13. Walk ons -- A
Every walk on gets an A. The effort they put in is amazing. They practice just as hard as the scholarship players and they contribute by being good teammates. i love the effort. Special kudos to Jake Dadika. He made a meaningful contribution in several games (the Illini game comes to mind) and improved his skill level. Now if he could only knock down some shots, he might continue to get playing time. He rarely makes a mistake and is an excellent passer.
Pikiell Coaching Staff: -- B+
A remarkable job. A complete -- Knight and Day transformation. I am thrilled with the improvement in rebounding, defense, hustle, etc. I like the fact that Pikiell plays so many players. His post game quote that "This is not Little League, where everyone gets a trophy." (or some variant of that) says a lot. If you want to play for me, you need to perform in practice and during the game. If you fail to perform, you are sitting next to me on the bench. That's fair and it is the way life should be -- a complete meritocracy!
Some areas where I would like to see improvement in our coaching philosophy --more pressing, more zone, more 3 point shooting (once we get the players who can perform), more alley oop attempts and a more concerted effort to run. I would also like to see Pikiell get a technical foul called in an effort to shake up these refs. We get no respect from the B1G refs and enough is enough. I'm sure Pikiell preaches toughness to his players, he has to show his toughness by taking one for the team at the right moment. A message has to be sent to these refs that we are no longer the doormat of the league. How many atrocious calls are we going to have to take before we make a stand -- no mas, baby!
If we get a player or two who can really shoot, we are going to be a tougher out next year. Recruit, recruit and recruit. Even RU is entitled to a lucky break -- if we get one, look out!!
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